Brash removal

Increasing concern about climate change and the need to reduce carbon emissions has led to new policies and support mechanisms for developing alternative energy sources, including the development of biofuels for fossil fuel substitution. It may now be cost effective to consider harvesting brash from forest areas for this purpose.

However, the existing guidance classifies a large part of the forest estate as being potentially sensitive to the removal of brash, leading to a shortage of suitable sites. This has prompted a re-examination of the original criteria for defining sensitive soils and waters.

The following protocol considers site selection for brash removal in upland conifer forests, with a focus on Sitka spruce stands.